What begins as a molten, white-hot blob of glass becomes a delicately curved pitcher that sparkles like a jewel. Or it could morph into a slender vase with the organic texture of bark, depending on Breed's inspiration that day.

Like most artists, he makes it look easy. Naturally, that took years.

Groups come by the busload along the winding road up Lookout Mountain in Northeast Alabama, then down a ridiculously steep bridge over a Little River feeder stream named Johnny's Creek to seek out Orbix Hot Glass.

Visitors watch at a safe distance as Breed and his two assistants shape liquid glass in the shop out back. Attached is a bright, sunny gift shop with vases, paperweights, decorative glass balls or other item for gifts or souvenirs.

Breed, 39, grew up in Florence and went to Auburn University, but realized the fine art of glass-making was "hard to learn in Alabama." He got a degree in fine arts from Ohio State after deciding marine biology wasn't for him.

Breed and his wife, Christine, always liked to climb and hike in the Fort Payne area. After living in Birmingham for a while and studying his family business, they decided to settle in Northeast Alabama 11 years ago to open the shop and raise a family.

The property -- originally destined to be a Christmas tree farm -- turned out to be a perfect fit. He even raises honeybees there.

"Natural things inspire me," Breed said. "I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about art." His new windows are inspired by the play of light on water. He collects limbs to use as molds for tree vases.

"I'm not interested in dark and gloomy, but items with a scent of hope."

Breed did his homework and shrewedly decided to specialize in "things that would be hard to replicate overseas" so he could make a living at it.

"When I started, I had the full intention of it working out," he said.

Even though the operation is rural to say the least -- following a GPS will get you lost -- Southern Living and Oprah's O magazine have managed to find him and spotlight his glass. In Style and Food & Wine publicized his swizzle sticks. Recognition like that makes Orbix Hot Glass even hotter.

Curly pitcher

Breed is reluctant to pick out his signature item, but thanks to national attention it appears the $195 curly pitcher is becoming just that. The gift shop also stocks many items under $50 like candy dishes, wine stoppers, $25-$35 glass balls/ornaments, ring bowls, small vases and $10 drawer pulls or magnets. Galleries from Florida to Massachusetts sell his work. (The only one in Huntsville is Little Green Store on Monte Sano.)

On Saturdays through Dec. 17, the Breeds are inviting people to make their own glass ornaments at Orbix for $35. On a recent Saturday, 60 people picked out colors and blew their own. The youngest was 5.

On a typical week five or six groups will stop by the studio and shop. Breed knows they're really interested because they're willing to make the trek into the backwoods and "go down this crazy hill," as he admits, to find him.

Visitors who head back up that hill and across Johnny's Creek leave with not only a work of art, but the satisfaction of supporting a rural Alabama artist whose work and career are both red-hot.

Orbix Hot Glass Oct. 26, 2011FORT PAYNE, Alabama -- Glass artist Cal Breed works in the Orbix Hot Glass studio in Fort Payne in northeast Alabama. Breed's glass works of art have been featured in "In Style," "O" and other prominent magazines. Travelers come by the busload to watch glass-blowing, blow their own ornaments and make purchases in the gift shop. (The Huntsville Times/Deborah Storey)